NATIONAL Nature Reserves are managed on behalf of the nation to maintain their special wildlife and natural features for you and for future generations."

These are the words which will greet you when logging on to English Nature's website, a stark contrast to what they are actually doing in Wyre Forest where they have felled 600 trees.

Given the number being felled, could English Nature be accused of being economically driven?

A representative told me they wished to maximise as much revenue as possible from the trees, but everything would be pumped back into the forest with even more coppicing planned for next year.

Given the present scale of devastation I am hardly reassured by the prospect of more to come.

I asked what scientific bases they had for their current management policy and could they be sure they had got it right?

Experience is what English Nature are basing their current management policy on, and while they hope they have got it right, they would not be so arrogant as to say they were certain.

These are the experts, protecting our nature reserves and wild places for future generations.

If they can't be certain, what hope is there when the Forestry Commission takes over?

What kind of forest can we look forward to in the future - something that is managed on a commercial footing and economics and not ecology as the prime motivation?

English Nature can be contacted on 01531 638500. I urge readers to make their views known. They are managing the forest on your behalf.

MRS MC PICKTHORN

Woodthorpe Drive

Bewdley